Rotary engine



Patented Nov. 29, I898.

W. MGFARLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fricit.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,037, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed April 28, 1 89 8- To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MOFARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a rotary engine, and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of such an engine.

The principal object of my invention is to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of a rotary engine; and to that end my invention consists of a rotary engine constructed and arranged in substantially themanner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary engine embodying main features of inyinvention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side elevational views of a single and double cam arrangement for operating the slide or valve mechanism of the engine.

Referring to the drawings, the exterior casing A is preferably cylindrical, and it consists of the tubular piece or casting a, bolted or otherwise secured to the heads to. Within the casing A rotates a cylindrical piston 11, having at its ends the heads 1), which project beyond the periphery Z9 of the piston and rest'in close proximity to the interior of the tubular piece a, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Between the sides or heads I) of the piston and the sides or heads a, of the casing A is left, by preference, a small space, so as to reduce the frictional contact of the piston and casing to the surface of the rims b of the piston, which contacts with the tubular piece a. The rims b of the heads I) are united by a longitudinal cross-piece or projection b forming the abutting surface of the piston, against which the steam or propelling fluid is adapted to be directed.

Traversing the casing A longitudinally is a shaft cl, which is free to rotate in the heads rt of the casing. To this shaft cl is keyed or Serial No. 679,065. (No model.)

otherwise secured the piston b. On the shaft d, outside the casing, is splined a double cam 6, consisting of two collars e and 6 each carrying a cam projection 6 which, as shown in Fig. 4, are reversely arranged so far as their throw-surface is concerned.

The casing A is provided with two sets of live-steam inlets f and g and corresponding eXhaust-outletsf and g for the steam or fluid, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Between these sets of inlets and outlets is arranged a slide or cutoff It, adapted to be raised and lowered in the interior of the casing by a rod or stem h, which reciprocates in a stuffing-box 72/ projecting from the tubular portion a of the casing. The rod or stem 71, is carried by a curved bail h to the center portion of which it is securely bolted. The free ends or arms of this bail h are guided in bearings 7L secured to the heads a of the casing. The springs h interposed between the bearings 7L and collars h, formed on the ends of the bail 7L3, serve normally to depress the bail 7L3, the stem h, and the slide h. The ends of the bail are provided with rollers 7L adapted to rest upon the cam-surface of either collar e" or 6 as desired, which cam-surface is adapted to elevate the bail.

In operation if the piston is to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 the inlet 9 and exhaust f are closed by suitable valves (not shown) and the inlet f and ex haust g are opened. The slide 77, in its normal position rests, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to the left of the abutting surface 19 of the piston and down upon the tubular surface of said piston and prevents steam or liquid enterin g through the inlet f from passing to the left of the slide. The fluid must therefore act upon the surface I) and propel the piston in the direction indicated by the arrow. The piston being secured to the shaft d causes the same to rotate, and the shaft in turn causes the collars e to rotate,and at the proper interval of time their throw-surface 6 impinges against the rollers 7L7 on the ends or arms of the bail 77 The bail is thereby elevated, and its center portion raises the slide h in an absolutely vertical plane, so as to permit the abutting surface b of the piston to pass, when the slide is immediately depressed by the springs 7L5, the rollers 1L passing at that time oil of the throw-surface 6 of the collars. lVhen the piston 11 is to travel in a reverse direction, the inlet 1 and exhaust f are opened and the inlet fand exhaust g are closed. At the same time the collars c and are slid upon the shaft until the reverse cam-surface of the collars e are brought under the rollers 7L7, when the operation will be the same as hereinbefore explained.

Since the arms and the center portion of the bail are guided in a vertical direction by, respectively, the bearings h and the stui'fingbox 7L2, the stem h and slide it are elevated in an absolutely vertical plane without side or angular movement, thus preventing the jamming of the slide in the casing.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a rotary engine, a cylindrical casing, a piston rotating therein, a shaft traversing the casing and secured to the piston, a double cam splined to the shaft outside the casing and at either end of said shaft, in combination with a slide reciprocating in said easing,a stem carrying said slide, a curved bail having its central portion secured to said stem, hearings located 011 both sides of said casing and adapted to receive and guide the free ends or arms of said bail, a collar formed on the extremity of each arm and a spring interposed between each bearing and collar and adapted to normally depress said arms, said double cams having reversely arranged throw surfaces adapted to be shifted beneath the arms of said bail and thereby to periodically elevate the arms of said bail against the tension of said springs, substantially as and [or the purposes described.

In testimony whercof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. MCFARLAND.

Witnesses:

IRWIN P. NOLFINGER, D. GRANT FRY. 

